U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Region 4 2016 Level A Exercise

 
Site Contact:
Kevin Eichinger and Chuck Berry
Exercise Planners

(eichinger.kevin@epa.gov)

Site Location:
Norcross, GA 30071
 response.epa.gov/r4_2016_Level_A

THIS IS AN EXERCISE

On 03/22/2016, Gwinnett County Fire and Police were investigating a suspicious death and uncovered four illicit chemical laboratories at the Gwinnett Self-Storage, located at 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, Georgia (Unit #’s 22, 26, 30, and 34). While investigating the storage units, entry teams found operating laboratory and suspicious production equipment. Radiation meters (MultiRAE Pro) used by the entry teams alarmed when they entered the units. Crews immediately pulled out and requested EPA and CST Assistance. A one-half mile radius was evacuated. This impacted business, residences and an elementary school.
Interviews of family members and friends of the responsible party revealed that he was illegally operating a specialty chemical manufacturing business manufacturing “revolutionary” fertilizers, alternative fuels and cleaning agents.

THIS IS AN EXERCISE


Practice suits hang awaiting load out. QSI Will Collins (left) and OSC Perry Gaughn demonstrating that one man's PPE waste is another man's garbage. OSC Subash Patel using his Yogic skills to shoe himself. QSI contractor from the REOC (Damascus Rutledge) loading out Scott Air Packs. OSC Jose Negron demonstrates years of experience in Level A equipment donning. OSC Steve Spurlin (aka Ok.... Is this a Level A exercise or not??? OSC Jordan Garrard demonstrating the Level B entry team reacting out 5-gallon (acidic) bucket with baking soda. No! No! No! don't lean over an open drum ! START (Bryan Vassar) adjusting scenario tent. Afternoon Level B entry team conducting post-entry radiological screening with Neutralization of chemical hazard present in the makeshift lab. Level B entry to neutralize a hazard associated with the makeshift lab. Level A entry in a radiation zone. Members stay back to manage received dose. Delineation of Rad source by Level A entry team. Screening for potential hazards in the makeshift labs Level A entry in to one of the makeshift labs. Level A entry in to one of the makeshift labs. Level A donning area. Makeshift lab First team prior to entry. Gwinnett County Fire Department prepping their equipment for entry. Gwinnett County Fire Department participating along EPA. OSC Matt Huyser doing his Frankenstein impression. OSC Rick Jardine laying down the law. OSC ( Radio Check ... Entry team making sure Ludlum instrumentation was set to appropriate settings and order of magnitude. We can't get enough of OSC Bryan Englert's safety glasses !! :-) OSC Timothy Neal (right) don glove on Level B exercise participant prior to afternoon exercise. OSC Terrance Byrd (left) getting last minute equipment adjustments from Incident Commander (OSC Spurlin) prior to afternoon entry. It's obvious that OSC Chris Russell moonlights as an Elvis impersonator :-) OSC Timothy Neal connecting microphone on OSC Richard Jardine's air-pack strap. OSC Timothy Neal responding to OSC Richard Jardine's pre-entry humor. If you look closely - OSC Richard Jardine is sporting the most important tool of all - The Eye of the Tiger :-) OSC Matthew Huyser (left) mentoring Freshman OSC Chris Tripp on the proper way to extend a neoprene gloved hand :-) It's been a while, but OSC Perry Gaughan has forgotten how to OSC Carter Williamson knows that there's only one team that can accomplish the mission objectives - OSCs Jordan Garrard (left) and Stephen Ball (right). OSC Greg Harper giving follow-up information on mitigation strategies proposed for afternoon Level B entries. Overhead of contractor support Charlie Parker (left) and Helen Mayoral (right) at the medical monitoring station. Level A training suits inverted and drying out. OSC Steve Spurlin (Exercise Incident Commander) going over the five teams reconnaissance data gathered from the morning's Level A entries. Addicted to technology :-) --- OSCs tele-connected prior to afternoon exercise briefing. It was cold in the covered practice area: Left to Right: OSCs Eichinger, Ball, Williamson, Garrard, Rhame (foreground) and Oil Section Chief Jim McGuire. Only OSC Jordan Garrard attempting to spike OSC & Health and Safety Officer Kevin Eichenger's blood pressure. Region 4 EPA & Contractor Participants: From Left to Right, Top to Bottom, In and Out.... Heck, I'm out of space for the names! The OSC Terrance Byrd (MBA), waiting for notification to seal-up and begin Level A entry. OSC Bryan Englert giving Helen Mayoral (START) laughing and ready to complete seal-up of Level A suit. OSC Terrance Byrd, OSC Terry Tanner happy to be suiting up on a chilly morning in Lawrenceville, GA. OSC Terrance Byrd getting Level A don support from Demascus. OSCs Terry Tanner (foreground) and Terrance Byrd (rear) don Level A gear. OSC Charles Berry getting Happy OSC Greg Harper (left) and distraught OSC/ H&S Officer Kevin Eichenger prepare for Level A entry. OSC Arthur Smith taking a moment to reflect on the coms scenario he will be conducting during the Level A exercise. OSC Jordan Garrard donning boots in Level suit-up. OSC Kenneth Rhame (background) decides to skip wearing Tyvek undergarment. Level A Team No. 2 suiting up for Level A entry. OSC Jason Booth (aka OSC Berry finally received gear support and continues to don equipment in preparation for Level A exercise. OSC Charles Berry and coordinator for the Level A exercise is being Entry Team No. 1 (foreground) and dress out area. Co-participants, Gwinnett County Fire and Rescue/HAZMAT Team, setting up their Level A entry gear. Pan view of dress out area. Team No. 1 gearing up (donning PPE). Left to Right: OSCs Jardine, Booth, Berry, Neal & Francendese. OSC Jason Booth (aka START (Scott Cavode) briefs exercise participants in morning briefing prior to Level A suit-up and entry. Makeshift laboratory following neutralization Makeshift laboratory following neutralization Makeshift laboratory Makeshift laboratory Makeshift laboratory Makeshift laboratory Team 4 performing second entry Team 4 performing second entry Team 4 performing second entry OSCs Benjamin Franco (left) and Chuck Berry conducting pre-Level A exercise briefing. OSC Steve Spurlin (Exercise Incident Commander) reviewing notes during Level A pre-briefing. OSC & Health and Safety Officer Kevin Eichenger and Freshman OSC Chris Tripp looks on as pre Level A exercise briefing is conducted. OSCs Franco (L) and OSC Berry (R) discuss exercise specifics prior to Level A entry. Exercise participants exchanging questions with OSC Franco. OSC Benjamin Franco briefing exercise participants prior to Level A entry. Team 4 following entry Team 4 following entry Team 4 following entry OSC Buerki agrees that she's pumped-up, motivated, and glad to be here this cold morning :-) Another panoramic of dress out area. Panoramic of dress out area. First of three group shot. Second of three group pictures. Third of three group photos of event participants. OSC Berry trying desperately to START confirming that OSC Francendese has appropriate vitals prior to first Level A entry. ER Section Chief Moore giving his OSC Williamson coordinates with START (Helen Mayoral) over Level A entry specifics. View of dress out area at Gwinnet Fair Grounds. OSC Englert sporting fashionable safety eye-ware prior to dress out. OSC Williamson inspecting the troops in dress out area. Broad view of dress-out area at Gwinnett Fair Grounds. START (Carter Owens) conducting pre-entry medical monitoring on OSC Terrance Byrd. OSC Franco may be OSC Russell (FLA Outpost) wants to make you a Good Morning Gwinnett Fairgrounds ! Motley Crew acknowledging they Makes Sense? - Summary Board from the five entry teams of the first Level A entry.